As a teenager, all you dreamt of was owning some of the coolest sports cars and muscle cars in the world. All you thought of is how much they cost and how could you save up to get one parked on your driveway.
However, the older you got the more you understood that there is more to a car other than how much it cost. The number one thing that hit your noggin was that fuel does not come cheap, you need insurance, your dream car has to be practical, and finally, yet importantly, you needed to maintain your car.
If you purchase a car and you do not keep an eye on it, it ends up being a liability. Moreover, let us face it, you cannot go replacing cars like caps. Here is a list of affordable cars that will not cost you an arm and leg to maintain.
10 Toyota Corolla
Toyota builds cars that are meant to last. Most of their cars are also quite affordable, save for their high-end brands like Lexus. One of the many reasons that the Toyota Corolla is one of the most popular sedans worldwide is because of its cheap and impressive maintenance and running cost.
The availability of spare parts and easy do-it-yourself repair tutorials from mechanics means this car is meant to give you little to no trouble. RepairPal has ranked the Toyota Corolla as the top car when it comes to being the easiest car to maintain and drive. The ownership cost is also quite affordable.
9 Honda Accord
Honda has always been on the frontline to deliver affordable cars that give you a sense of owning a high-end luxury car. The Honda Accord fits snuggly into this category. The Accord is a four-door sedan built to stand in as an affordable option for a family sedan.
The Accord has scored higher compare to its competitors when it comes to reliability. Its performance, however, is something some car enthusiasts might call average. The Accord comes in both manual and automatic transmission. This family sedan offers comfort and you will not have to break the bank to maintain it.
8 Kia Soul
Often overlooked by drivers, the Kia Soul is one of the cheapest and most reliable cars in the market today. The Kia Soul is estimated to cost $437 in repairs and maintenance yearly. For those who have had the pleasure to own this ride, they all agree that Kia is an affordable choice for people who are looking to enjoy some advanced features like cruise control, adequate cargo space, and enough legroom on a budget.
This four-door hatchback is ideal for small families. The Kia Soul is also the ideal option for anyone looking to buy a car that leaves behind one of the smallest footprints on the environment without spending a fortune.
7 Hyundai Sonata
Hyundai is another car manufacturer that has made a name for itself by producing some of the cheapest cars. Often mistaken for high-end luxury cars, Hyundai makes sure that even their cheapest cars do not leave the production line looking tacky.
The Hyundai Sonata is a full-size sedan that has proven it can hold down its own when it comes to cheap annual repairs and overall maintenance. It is estimated that you can spend less than $500 on repairs and maintenance costs of the Sonata. This budget sedan features a user-friendly infotainment system, cruise control, and driver assists. The Hyundai Sonata has received a 5-star rating from NHTSA too.
6 Ford Edge
Ford is known for its trucks and muscle cars, which vary in price and power. Over the years, they have ventured out and tried their hand at the production of budget cars and trucks.
The Ford Edge is one of their best attempts on budget cars. The Edge focuses more on safety and practicality than it does on performance. This is not to imply that this car is a lemon. The Ford Edge is powered by twin-turbocharged engines that are offered in a wide range of options with varying power outputs.
5 Toyota Camry
When you think of reliability and comfort on a budget, Toyota should be one of the top contenders. Known for its reliability and modest maintenance costs, Toyota is always looking for a way to keep its customers comfortable
The Toyota Camry is one of the many affordable Toyota models that have topped the list of top-selling cars worldwide. The Camry is a full-size four-door family sedan that does not look cheap and tacky. Camrys have been known to be some of the most sought-out cars by middle-class families.
4 Nissan Versa
When you opt to buy a cheap car, they are many things that you have to throw out the window. For the Nissan Versa, you have to live without an engaging driver experience. The price you have to pay for this four-door sedan might be worth it if you are looking to spend $500 yearly on repairs and maintenance.
The Versa offers a comfortable layout for five adults. The Versa is focused more on practicality than looks and performance. You might not be behind the wheel of a powerful car, but you can still drive in style while on a budget.
3 Infiniti Q70
Infinity falls under the Nissan umbrella. Nissan is known for their cheap cars that are built to rival some of the high-end performance cars in the market. The Infinity Q70 is a four-door sedan built for luxury on a budget. The Q70 is one of the most affordable and reliable sedans in the market today.
This car’s maintenance cost is estimated to hit less than $5,000 in 10 years. Availability of spare parts for the Infinity Q70 is not a hustle since most cars built by Nissan share parts and those that do not match they are readily available and are cheap.
2 Toyota C-HR
Toyota takes the crown for the cheapest car to buy and maintain by securing four slots on our list. The Toyota C-HR is one of the highest-ranked compact SUVs that cost little to nothing when it comes to maintenance.
The Toyota C-HR’s reliability score is one to be envied by other cars in its category. For a cheap car, the C-HR comes fitted with standard features that might be considered premium options in other brand models. Toyota includes advanced safety features and driver assists in the base model of the Toyota C-HR.
1 Toyota RAV4
This is yet another amazing choice from Toyota. The Toyota RAV4 is a compact SUV that is built to last longer and go the extra mile. While it is not built for off-roading, drivers have been known to use the RAV4 as a farm vehicle used to haul food, animals, and other farm equipment.
The RAV4 offers adequate cargo space, a smooth ride and its consumption rate is very impressive clocking in at less 20 mpg. For an SUV that goes for less than $25,000, the RAV4 comes fitted with adaptive cruise control, lane tracing assist technology and, automatic emergency braking.